Lodz, November 21, 1914

This is a very rough translation of a news article that was originally written in the Polish language about the battle of Lodz, which took place in Polish Russian from November 11th to roughly December 9th, 1914.

Real briefly, General Mackensen's German 9th Army and some other divisions went on the offensive on November 11th, 1914. The other divisions advanced further than the 9th Army and were encircled by two Russian Armies but, in the end, the Germans managed to break out.

In the course of the battle, the Germans had the industrial city of Lodz surrounded, and tried to break into the city from the south, but were repulsed by Russian Siberian troops.

However, the Russians eventually withdrew and decided to concentrate on defending Warsaw instead, and the German Army marched into Lodz.


I used Google Translator to translate the article from Polish to English, so the translation is very weak indeed, but you do get a very general sense of what happened and how the battle is viewed from the nations which participated today, and the battle is essentially forgotten:






On the sand at the bottom of the bottom piece extends red bags with the words "Media Markt - not for idiots." Of the branches lying around the thin greenish patyczek choose to scatter sand and open the folder. It was only discovered after the mistake. Branches to the alleged human tibia, and the hand holding omszałe slender rib of a man.

Scene from the front - Russian soldier writes a letter to home

Captured by the photographer an outbreak of the Russian front projectile


more photos of 10 September 2006 Steep hill in pine forest near the village of Dąbrowa near Lodz. On the downward slope of six to three meters, a depth meter - a work of treasure seekers. Finders operated the "deposit" for a few years. Recently, he left for the West, praised the find before colleagues. The two will not sustain the view, called to the editor. - There are bags of human bones - they said. - Part wala on earth. Do not notify the police, yet we have made to the desecration of corpses.

In the sand are the tibia, well-preserved military soles of shoes, shreds uniform sweatshirts, sprzączki from the belt. Gray zetlały material remains of the greatcoat. This is the ammunition rifles. Zaśniedziałe scales, whole-boat magazines of five units.

Do you see those blue zacieki? - Adam, czterdziestolatek shows cartridge. - This discoloration appears on the metal in places in which coincides with the body. You can not delete them.

Bartek, younger and ridges in the sand. Rusty pocket knife. Aluminum water bottle. The next rounds. Tibia in footwear. I foil bag. It is open to using wiotkiego ribs. In the middle of bones, kosteczki, a piece of skull. - Russian soldiers with 1,914 years - say digger. - Ammunition Mosina type of gun. Germany not to use this.

How many seekers penetrowało down? It is not known. They took everything, which would establish the identity of the killed. Bones litościwie popakowali to the flour sacks and foliówek.

Przysypujemy remains of sand.

Guess who they were. In the area of Dabrowa 18 and 19 November 1914 fought 24 Russian infantry division army 2. The group included four Siberian pułki: Jenisiejski, Krasnodar, Omsk and Irkucki. They were Brzeziny attack, eight kilometers north-east. Germany smote the first from the forest into a nearby Wiączyniem. Today, in the woods is a cemetery. Yet funded it during the war the family of Karol Scheibler factory owner. Buried there together one thousand nine Russians and Germans. Two kilometers further is even more Witkowicach cemetery. 11 thousand. killed. Even years ago it was not possible to enter the tombs - zarosły krzakami and trees and jungle. Such cemeteries around the city about two hundred. - Really? I mean, there was never any battle! - Surprised almost everyone Lodz.

It was.

Operation "steamroller"

28 July 1914 Explosive World War I. In the first days of August at the request of France, the Russian army strike on East Prussia. German troops are to get ticks in 1 Army Gen. Paul Rennenkampfa from Królewca and 2 Army Gen. Alexander Samsonowa from the south. But Rennenkampf suspends Królewcem under attack. Gen. Paul von Hindenburg and Erich von Ludendorff alone defeats army Samsonowa into Tannenbergiem, its commander is committing suicide.

At the same time, the Russians, however, relate a huge success in Galicia, the Austrians Gromie, in view of Krakow, threaten Śląskowi maximum. Germany haste sojusznikowi aid. In September and October and are flown to Warsaw Dęblin. The share is half the battle by Russian forces, fighting on the front of more than half a million 300 thousand soldiers against. Germans and Austrians.

28 October Russians reject the forces of Gen. Augustus Mackensena from Warsaw. They favorable positions on the offensive area of Germany. Front now extends to 300 km from the Wloclawek Przedbórz, once both sides of stands 600 thousand. and 2.7 thousand soldiers. department. At the center is over półmilionowa Lodz, an important industrial center. From the German border it shares only one hundred kilometers. The temptation is great.

Russian team is preparing an operation "steamroller". Objective: Berlin and Upper Silesia. The offensive on 1 prepares Rennenkampfa Army, 2 Army Gen. Sergei Scheidemann and 5 Army Gen. Paul Plehwego. Together almost 400 thousand. soldiers. Against each other are more than 200-thousand. 9 army Mackensena. Germany plans to know the Russians. Hastily recover four bodies from the western front. Striking first.

11 November 1914 to begin "Operation Lodz. Boris Szaposznikow, sztabowiec 2 Army, called it in the years 20. "the most complex operation of the shunting of World War I". Within two weeks after the two sides killed more than 110 thousand. Russians and 90 thousand. Germans. For comparison: the famous Battle of Verdun lasted 10 months and poległo a 700 thousand. soldiers. Statistically 2.3 thousand. day. Within three weeks the battle of Lodz each day losing 10 thousand lives.

Germany systematically spychają Russian troops from the north and west towards Lodz. Russians lose Włocławek, Kutno, cure. Around three of their powerful army to clamp ring. In the critical days of November 18-23 Germany are one step away from the city center.

Russian Guards division 3 fights in the psychiatric hospital in Kochanówce, rozbiegają patients get around.

Wykrwawiają to najświetniejsze pułki Russian, Peter created yet for the I: Lithuanian, Estonian, Piotrogradzki. Bily at Borodino with Napoleon, acquired Paris.

After years of going back into Lodz 37 Jekatierynoburski Infantry regiment, Tuwima described by the "Polish flowers. Stationed here since the January Uprising of 1907 and he tłumił revolution in 1905, nine years later, the debate gets under Koluszkami.

At Wiączyniem be seriously injured Pfingstein Col. Artillery projectile fitful horse's head, an officer goes into the hands of the Germans. Cries of pain so terrible that Germany leave him to die. Colonel swoi there, save.

Near the village is surrounded by the enemy Borowa chałupie remains 21 Siberian regiment. Battalion commander tells burn flag. Shoots himself in head with a gun. Soldiers ordered to perform with weeping - "połkowoje mark" to holiness. Burn the fabric, thread wyszywane gold standard heart of Christ's face zakopują somewhere in the vicinity.


In some pułkach is not a single officer. There is a lack of ammunition for the department. Hungry soldiers.

Germany want to ring the Russians, Germans, Russians. There is chaos. On the map it is hard to find staff, how to walk through the line. Germany attack the Russians from the east of Lodz, but front is in the west and north. For East Germany from the Russians once more. These attack Germany from the south, from the village, which in theory should be the Russians.

From October 16 to Łowicza by Stryków southwest Russian goes "branch łowicki", made up of divisions pozbieranych hastily. Germany had a similar idea: the group leaves Brzeziny gen Reinhold von Scheffer, the three divisions. I want to break on its north. The composition of the branch is 6 Lowicz syberyjska division of Khabarovsk. Without maps and specific orders from Brzezina marches to the south. Scheffer from the south goes on Brzeziny.

In the woods near the village Gałków, 15 km from Lodz, Poland, the Russians are becoming eye to eye with three times more powerful opponent. Beat the whole day. Pada first snow in 1914, he took 12-gradual frost.

Walk in the woods today, you can fight through the whole three lines hastily carved transzei, shooting holes, leje after explosions, shells, pieces. Sybiracy withdraw to the north. With the railway line Warsaw - Lodz is no longer trenches. He had come to dig them. The evening of 23 November 1914 6 division ceased to exist. Germany was pierced through for their Brzeziny.

Russia gave the ring, but suffered too much damage, they must shorten the front. 6 December to withdraw from Lodz, Poland 80 km to the east. The new line of defense will rawk river. This is where 15 May 1915, Germany after the first use of gas in the east. At Bolimów within several minutes lost in the horrendous męczarniach 9 thousand. Russian soldiers. Do not give a position.

This battle has disappeared from human memory. Same as 200 thousand. killed. Army of shadows, the white spot. And it's been only 93 years. Why does this happen? For the Poles "operation Lodz was only off invaders. - Do not celebrated residents of Lodz - explains Volker cays and Frank Schuster, researchers from the German Historical Institute. - In 1924, the author of one of the German newspapers narzekał that cemeteries are destroyed, nagrobkach to play and dance groups podpitych teenagers. So in 10 years after the war, the battle has gone into oblivion.

The Russians have forgotten, because the revolution, famine, Stalinism, łagry and World War II events of this first obscure, "imperialist and unjust." Was dangerous even to mention that the father and grandfather fought for the Tsar. Germany? - In the context of the German discourse about the memory of World War II, it must be assumed that it was to a large extent focused on the standards of political correctness - the cays and Schuster. - Battle of Lodz was not saved because they do not match the canonical understanding of history in Germany after World War II.

Tsar medal for the Soviet marshal

January 2005, finishing the novel translated by Alexander Sołżenicyna "August 1914" on the offensive Samsonowa. With the book I learn that three months later the same armies will be fought in Lodz. This is my first meeting with the battle. Surprise: Gen. Rennenkampf will be with the team Gałkowem, on the train on the line Warsaw - Lodz. Half a kilometer from the plot, which run in summer. Front line of the river set down Miazga. The second surprise: the rivulet in the forest, a half-step from the water cube? 93 years ago was Miazga five-meter wide and three deep ... Train staff ostrzeliwała German artillery from the nearby road Andrespol at Lodz - Tomaszów. Mayor makes a great face it, gun in Andrespolu? Never heard of the battle, but on the edge of the village can see the outline of war cemetery. Even in the next village, and in Kurowicach, where the walls of the church today are overloaded with bullets, few people know, how do you take. - Lord, to Soviet bezbożnicy in 1945 and scored the cross - tell the residents.

I have to examine the puzzle forgotten battlefield. It is impossible that such an event been forfeited without a trace. Lodz was the end of a promised land, the city of four cultures. Since it began the final withdrawal of the Polish historical invaders. And yet "Lodz operations" is not in the textbooks. There was nothing on it apart from deteriorating cemeteries, as enigmatic as the Mayan pyramid or the statues of Easter Islands.

We begin by searching on the Internet. Take me years. There memories płk Fiodor Nowicki, Chief of Staff 2 Army Corps 2. Know the names of commanders, events, walk descriptions, maps. Amazing: The Russians in Lodz for the first time during the war I used armored cars. Five wagons rozpędziło seven regiments in the German attack on Pabianice.

Siemion Budionny young, the future Marshal of the Soviet Union, defeated in 1920 by Piłsudskiego, for the courage to charge in order to get a Brzeziny St. George - tsarist highest military award, the equivalent of Virtuti militari.

Nikolai Gumilow poet, husband of Anna Achmatowej, shot in 1921 by the Soviets, fought under the Piotrkow. He wrote a book about it "Zapiski kawalerzysty".

During the November walk artillery from the ground equals Konstantynów, Aleksandrów, Zgierz, dozens of villages.

Commander of the German divisions and decisive maneuver by General Karl von Litzmann won the battle after the nickname 'the lion Brzezina ". In 1939, on its part for the Nazis renamed Lodz Litzmannstadt. According to legend, is dead in Lodz during the walk, and was buried in Rzgowie. Not true, died in Germany in 1936 before his death had to join the NSDAP and the photograph of Hitler. His son during World War II he was governor of Estonia, and after the re-education camps - a politician in the communist German Democratic Republic. History chuckle ...

Earth and begins to speak. I know it's about the trenches in the woods gałkowskim. 23 November 1914 6 Division natyka up at three German divisions. It is rozgromiona. Of the 24 regiment of the division reaches out to Lodz live only about 15 soldiers. Germany and five ridges on the forest hill, directly on the ground fight. Tombstones rozszabrowali local residents during the period 60., obliterating the traces of Lodz Germany. Saved only stone with an inscription in German, the "500 strong poległo Russian troops here for their homeland." The cemetery also was to be abolished. Someone rescued him trick: set on a hill a stone that says that there are also Polish soldiers killed in the battle over Bzurą. Do not lie, but through fraud zostawiły the cemetery alone.

I am writing an article about the first battle. I get the first phones. People talk about the next-forgotten cemeteries and niespodziankach what's in the earth. - I bought the plot Koluszkami - says Irena Wilczarowska. - When wykarczowałam bushes, I saw a mound disputes. I wanted to overcome it, but the bones are human. What can be and what to do about them?

Of course, battle. - Leave, where they are - I suggest. - I put a cross.

In July 2006, buying the same in the forest gałkowskim. Birch, Orthodox, so what. With a placard that respected the walk. Local residents to throw out garbage trenches, do not know that these people died Rowach. After a month compresses me something in his throat: the cross is coated stones field. Grzybiarze yield of one, two. Someone puts flowers. One day I meet praying the older master. - I knew nothing about the battle - he says. - My God, so many people here have died. , 10 thousand. km to die. Scary.


Why remind the battle? To a man was good in two manuals opinion about it? Jarosław Janowski, tourist guide: - Lodz has something unique, but completely forgot about. "The operation Łódzka" attraction should be the entire region. Historical tourism is the world's very fashionable. People are coming to pobojowiska, cemeteries, looking for the graves of their ancestors.

I know. In Lodz, Poland should meet on an annual historical reenactment groups of Polish, Russian, Germany. Productions in the historic battle uniforms przyciągnęłyby thousands of visitors. And then the parade of all troops from all wars Street. Piotrkowska. With the whole world! Russians, British, French, Americans. We tailor-made tourist attraction in Rio carnival. Not only Lodz - the entire region! This is more than an idea: a vision! But one needs to convince the people and local authorities.

An interview with the editor of a group of Ukrainian students:

- Przyjechalibyście for this staging, at the Cemeteries?

- And here, our fight?

- Kozacy dońscy.

- No clear that przyjechalibyśmy. A kacapy lie here?

- A hundred thousand.

- This is all the more come!

Reconstructed Group division of the Siberian Krasnoyarsk, a hundred peasant, has only one question: - When to arrive?

Such things do not go to the army

10 October 2006 at the Las Dąbrowa. On the back road takes eleven cars. This is a group of archeology students, police from Koluszek, the representative of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Red Cross lady, Mayor Thomas Bystroński Nowosolna municipalities with the Secretary, Andrew Cewiński, patrol engineers of the 25 Air Cavalry Brigade, forester, television crew, the company Witold Skrzydlewskiego burial. Without reflection zaofiarował Free coffins, transport, cold storage, the organization of burial, flowers. - What about the fact that the Russians, zaborcy - cast in the handset during a conversation with "Gazeta". - Ordinary people. TAM every hit. Just ensure to pomodlił for them to pop.

Metal Detector Saperzy check whether the bottom is not artillery shells or grenades. Cartridges guns cast box. Burn them to poligonie. Archeology students are starting to dig. Consist partly in the black film. Canvas bags are two of the bones. Skull. The spinal column. Tibia. All milkną. On plastic płachtach is ten brown czaszek. Young policewoman reverse face. I want her to cry. Do not view it wzruszyłby fresh corpses, victims of murder or accident - m used to that. But these are soldiers, killed in okopie 93 years ago. Are as dopadła their death. On the first line of the weapon in his hand, among the scattered ammunition. The trench artillery shell had hit. Killed immediately, delay przysypał sand. Probably because their colleagues are not buried. Or do you simply do not have the time. On czaszkach wysypywanych you can see the bags skamieniałe holes and after szramy wounds. Ostrzyżeni to zero saperzy look no word on zetlałe sacks and a red folder. - Such things do not go to the army - odzywa and goes back to the platoon after a cigarette.

Students expertly separate archaeological findings. Kupka on one pelvis, vertebrae against the tibia to the third. - Young people, age 18-25 years old, features mongoidalne, Asian - evaluate the head of the group. - Probably from Siberia.

At the foot of the hill waiting four coffins. Parts are located in two. Go to the cold. You have to prepare a funeral.

After a few days just in case archaeologists przekopują sand around the bottom. There are several bones. Head of Group Ride to the cold in the cardboard box. On the way to the hospital takes a wife, who is beginning to raise. Young woman sitting next to the box with the debris. This may macabre case, perhaps a symbolic link generations.

- The need to protect the graves of Poles, and not Russian, and German invaders - teaches you to an online forum for "Newspapers".

At the time, destroyed the tombs can be read off the names of these "invaders." Cemetery in Wiączyniu. On the right are Germany. Just tilt and indelible moss from concrete plates. "Gefreiter Joseph Skrzyczyk, Posen. In pamiętniku Alexander Todorskiego, company commander of the Siberian engineers regiment 24, read the names of soldiers fighting in Lodz Peter Jakubiak, Wladyslaw Meszliński, Adam Wołosik, Adolf Kondracki, Franciszek Matusiak ...

Igor Ładygin, historian of Novosibirsk - Siberian Pułki were only names. Complement the state room in Warsaw, in Mazowsze. Incorporation into the Poles.

Poles do not you come to the Legions. Today no one remembers them. Yet another reason to take up the battle.


Latest War I soldiers

Valentyna Bondariowa, deputy director of National Museum in Krasnoyarsk, in the care of the Siberian shaman your Łodzi. Your Shaman represent Russia at the Festival of Four Cultures. It is November 2005, at the back I make the scene a few words with Valentin. Battle, 1914 years, pułki Siberian. Are Krasnoyarsk retain any documents? Valentyna check. He treats the matter seriously. Circulate e-mails. Yes, the archives are materials krasnojarskich War I, but none of them do not zaglądał years 20. Next list: run the project in science, the museum together with the university will look for traces of the battle in the archives of Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Omsk. In May 2006 Bondariowa arrive at the first international conference on the battle, which was organized by the "Promised Land" and Łódzkie branch PAS. Lodz to bring a list of names of 175 residents of the state Krasojarskiego, killed and missing in Lodz. It is not for the entire country, from one district aczinskiego. - If the Poles are the graves of our care, we'll be looking at the Polish graves in Siberia - provides.

Valentin Juszko the doctor a neurologist from Moscow. Works on standby. Pasjonuje the history of the Order of St.. George. Throughout the war, I was given them only 10 thousand. An "operation Lodz" - fifteen. Army had six million Russian soldiers. Valentin also participated in the May conference. Returned to Lodz, Poland in August. He had to go on holiday to Egypt, he chose wandering cemeteries after the war. In the cliff before the stoppage Gałkowie small Russian flag. Around full of rubbish, bottles potłuczonych. The cemetery is a favorite pijaczków. Listen to the tape "Słowianki Farewell." Juszko wipes tears. The next day przedziera through the thicket Wiączyniu. In the jungle only a miracle can be found the graves of Russian. Valentin prays. According to Russian tradition must prostrate to beat, but not the board, the branches do not allow. I feel shame.

In November 2005 in Lodz, a concert choir Aleksandrów. Please commander, Colonel. Leonid Malewa, the Russians gave to one song in memory of their fallen Lodz in 1914 - a hundred thousand? - And wonder, Colonel. Gets album of photographs from the old stump and okopami projectile armatniego. Choir dedicates soldiers "Nightingales." Re-tour in March 2006: this time, soldiers from the Lodz is dedicated to all the concerts. - Next time you come to the repertoire of that war - provides the commander. - If you want to, sung to the trenches or at the cemetery.

Send an email to the Mayor of Khabarovsk. Please, to local newspapers posted my appeal: Lodz Polish journalist is looking for descendants of soldiers or combatants killed near Lodz. Apel they almost all newspapers and news agencies in Siberia. Come the list. - My pradziadek was wounded in the village Janów in November 1914 he returned from war with the CKM-zdobycznym em - said Andrei Gusin from Omsk. - The machine gun has saved the village three times: two before and once before bolszewikami white.

Lejtenant Siemion Pokrowskij fall into Pabianicami. He had two orders of St.. George. Szczerozłote. Command sent to the family. - During the great famine grandmother broke those orders into pieces and included on the bread - it Pokrowskij Ivan, an engineer with Ufy. - Grandfather was saved after the death of all life. Do you have a grave somewhere with the name? I pray for him and for you.

Peter Mitrofiejew from Moscow: - I 'm sorry that I did not write about the war, but I have a request. In 1945 he lost in Lodz, my grandfather Ivan. You may be able to determine its fate? Grandmother lives, is 95 years. Still loves him and believes that he was alive. And that returns ...

Comments on the appeal in the Russian internet: "Thanks for the memory of our soldiers", "A low bow to you, the Poles," "Fie us for our country forgotten that these heroes."

- My Pradziad in the rank of general-lejtenanta, commander of 55 Infantry Division, took part in the fighting near Lodz. Enclosed is a list of the localities in which he fought - Vassili Tiurin writes. - It may be useful. Thank you very much for the memory of soldiers and war. Division pradziadka suffered huge losses in May 1915

Historian Alexei Borisov Petersburg sends the lists of names of fallen further. Igor Ładygin Novosibirsk meticulously recreates the story of 41 shooters Siberian regiment. The regiment also fought in Lodz. But the documents do not exist. - No wonder - he writes with bitterness Igor. - That is no longer with us. During World War II in Novosibirsk volunteers formed division, got the number and went to the front. The trace after it disappeared. It is not known where he fell and where are those soldiers. Róbmy everything to restore the memory of all the forgotten soldiers of both wars!

- Please consider me as a friend and ally - declares Gennadij Rżannikow of Zlatoust in the village Czelabińskiem. Through Nina Ragużynej, newspaper journalist "Russian Atlantis" with Harbinu, China reaches Wiery Tokmakowej from Chelyabinsk, the granddaughter of Victor Mandryki, commander of the regiment 24 Khabarovsk. The 15 survivors on the soldiers went by foot from Gałkowa to Lodz 23 November 1914 He died in 1937 in exile in Harbinie. - May God bless the Poles for the noble deeds - Wiera Tokmakowa writes.

Battle begins to live his own life. Even if you do not want to have to deal with it. Collect additional documents, every day I answer to letters, phone calls. Calling boats. Thank you for the reminder of the battle. Whence the last soldiers and war.

Peter Werner, journalist, filmmaker. 300 unique photos gathered from the battlefield. Podłódzkie ruined town, bombed the station in Lodz, armored train on the tracks at Gałkowem. The truck in the church for a garage zamienionym. Mariusz Łochowski, pulmonary surgery, passions photographing cemeteries forgotten war. It organizes an exhibition of photographs in the club doctor. Piotr Marciniak, a historian, has defended the first dissertation in the work on "Operation Lodz.

Searchers join the military Groups Lodz. This, it goes through a forest and listen GAŁKOWSKI pisków detector. 30 centimeters below the ground battle is still ongoing. Shells, buttons, cartridges, lead balls from szrapneli. Along the forest Wiączyniu in which several steps are iron-boat magazines with ammunition. Someone pędził along okopu soldiers and cast them. Not managed to reach at these cartridges. Died, fled, went into an attack on bayonets? A second fight stopped in time. Rusty bullets and fragments are not of this world, emanate an own energy. Amazing feeling.

Andrzej Adach, unemployed mechanic, own sumptem issued a brochure "Durchbruch bei Brzeziny. Łódzka operation in 1914." Inside, photos of cemeteries, the struggles and maps. Readers ask, where you can buy. Andrzej can talk for hours about pułkach and dywizjach the battlefield.

Russia discovers and war. Mail from Gorbunowa Alexander, Mayor of Khabarovsk Advocate: - On behalf of my countrymen, I wish to thank all the Poles who have good hearts, who devote time and bezinteresownemu work szlachetnemu memory of the soldiers in the Polish incumbent earth. Niedomówienia and mutual assault in which the relations between our countries today, the great sin politics - is no longer valid desperately little compared to what unites the hearts of our Slavonic peoples. May God bless you for your wonderful deeds!

- May God bless you - wtóruje him from France Vladimir Jagiello, grandson dragon, Orthodox theologian, pastor of the church in Paris and Nice. Name of the same, but not family. - All people are the world's family - said Vladimir.

Spasibo you, a Pole

29 November 2006 Death. The formalities were at niemiara. At the burial in Wiączyniu must agree to the county conservator of historical monuments, archaeologists are looking for places where you can dig up the grave without disturbing the rest dead. In the village - nerves. It will be governor, diplomats from the embassies of the Russian Orthodox bishop.

Where to buy the Russian flag?


Where do I invite guests to the tea ceremony?

How to organize the ceremony?

It worked. Rest next to the soldiers. Circle Officer - crescent boulders with subtitles "Chrabryj officer shelf 250", "Chrabryj unter-mate" or just "Chrabryj russkij woin". On trumnach are two red roses. In English and Russian flags strażacka becomes worth the galowych uniforms. The cemetery is cleaned of bushes, has a new fence with boards. Archbishop of the Diocese of Lodz and Poznan Simon prays along with Catholic priests. Around the bottom wykopanego faces more than a hundred people, each gets a thin candle. Orthodox cast them to the pit ignited, oświetlały way to dead. There also will be so. Stand aloof from military searchers. Appointed to each buy a red carnation. The florist was missing, so bought the rose. "Bolas" then post a photo from the funeral at the Russian historical www.ww2.ru. forum "Mołodcy poliaki", "Spasibo you", "Wiecznaja pamiat" - people post a comment. A 24 December podforum to set up a special wish for the Poles on the occasion of the Catholic Christmas.

Orthodox prayers and songs are impressive at all. There are young people from school in Wiączyniu, the girls popłakują. Trumpeter played "Silence", fly to the grave candles. I Siberian cedar cone, which Valentin Bondariowa awarded to me in May to commemorate. This native land, instead of lumps, let him smell poległym family parties. At the grave a small Russian flag stoppage. Valentin Juszko took three, one was at the cemetery in Gałkowie, the other at the cemetery on a similar industry. Straight from the Red Square. Russian diplomat in uniform salutuje. Poległym reads the letter I got from the Krasnoyarsk Bondariowej. - You said the "Wiecznaja pamiat. Pust 'zemlia them budete puchom" - Valentin said. - Przekażcie our soldiers, saying during the ceremony. So in Russia bids farewell to the dead at the funeral. And yet they say that in Siberia and winter is already a lot of snow, frost reach 20-25 degrees ...

Maybe in a coffin hears these words of Nikita Ławrientij shooter, "23 years, peasant, Orthodox, married, two children, Izindajew village, municipality nazarowska, Krasnodar district, disappeared without trace into the Lodz 18.11.1914"?.

A shooter can Froł Kartawyj, "27 years, peasant, Orthodox, bachelor, Ignatiewka village, municipality czastoostrowska, district krasjnojarski. He died on 21.11.1914 in Lodz?

Perhaps Sergei Mierkułow, killed days later? The museum Omsku retained in a list of 42 soldiers to the families Siberian regiment in the autumn of 1914 would like to thank Sergei for parents and a pack of sweets: "Only the most podarków dies in intendenturze. Yes, a candy that gets to us in two."

Mierkułow, born in 1896. 18. The child, not a soldier. Contemporary of my grandfather and son at the same time. Also like my sweets ...

We have over the grave, although this was not in the ceremony: - For over one hundred years generations of Poles modliły a "war of the universal." Reiterated that when the bleeding zaborcy, Poland regain its freedom. For us, "wykrwawić by" only a metaphor. For millions of young Russians, Germans, Austrians and Poles incorporated the three armies had literal meaning. Also, for those ten unnamed people. They were just ordinary people, wziętymi for the front three months earlier out of the houses, from farms, from the harvest. You probably never even heard about Poland. This paradox, but also gave life to make sure that Poland could be independent. So now let this heart of Poland, after matczynemu to adopt their own land and the always przytuli their bones.

- He spoke, as if it were his children. I made a cold - an online forum for comments on military seekers Piotr Moscow, a farmer from Skierniewice.

The battle to snowball

Before telebim in the hall at the University of Lodz collect the last soldier and the war: Piotr Marciniak, Peter Werner, a dozen military seekers. Videoconference from Krasnodar. 8 November 2006 In our day is. 20, in Siberia during the night 2. However, the connection is waiting there for more than 30 people. The city authorities, scientists, men of the Poles. Russians want to thank you for reminding battle and concern for their fallen. In Krasnoyarsk is "Night of museums" - the attraction is the Museum of National History telemost from San Francisco, Swiss Berne and Lodz. Bondariowa tells the story of a recent conference: "The contribution of Poles to the development of Siberia." Together with the Polish authorities are beginning to organize the graves of Polish exiles. The oldest are from the 1831 wave their hands, greeting. We 8 thousand. km.

Week twenty seekers previously cleared of bushes in the cemetery Wiączyniu. Skrzyknęli on the Internet. They work all of Saturday. Piotrek Moscow rose at dawn. Train reached the Andrzejów, three kilometers from there to a bicycle Wiączynia.

There are people from Lodz, Pabianice, Zgierz, Nowosolna. - Who pays you for it? - Interested in some grzybiarz. - None - November response. - Just as you need.

Time offensive. Goes after the authorities. - Battle as a tourist attraction region? Great - Jaroslaw Nowak, director of the department of promotion of the City of Lodz, immediately podchwytuje idea. - Routes, museums, cemeteries. We do that.

- Capital case, may be a common design for many municipalities - Zbigniew Frączyk, the head of the Regional Tourism Organization of Lodz, no doubt. - That is more than an idea, a vision!

Subsequent allies declare themselves. Help declares Dr. Andrzej Stasiak of the Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management. Inventories of summer students forgotten cemeteries, prepare a map. The school provides space for an exhibition about the battle. 2 November in Lodz starts Tourism Forum "Poland - Russia." Arrives 85 Russian companies. Each gets a flyer on "operations in Lodz." The next morning, everyone wants to go to the cemetery with flowers in Wiączyniu.

Minister for Tourism of Russia Vladimir Strzałkowski gets me the prototype "battlegrounds" a souvenir from Lodz, Poland: wooden karabinowy missile with "Lodz 1914" smiley eyes and smiling. Smiling, because it is not about martyrdom, only tourists. Such awards to anyone who is interested in battle - has already distributed more than two hundred!

In January 2007, the searchers set up a military official Eksploracyjno Lodz History Association. A lot of the fun, mainly because of the familiar nicknames. Scrutiny Commission composed of "Apacz", "gunship", "Obert" and "young Mauser" sounds a little funny, but in the minutes, the real first names and surnames. The Association will maintain the cemeteries, to make information boards in the fields of fighting, collecting exhibits for the exhibition. "Oldvit" and "Sturmvogel" first start. Jan. 23 at the library in a residential Janów present their collections: soldier's medals, leashes, skins, icons travel and sabers. - A piece of history from the ground wydarty, goose-flesh are - says Joanna Lipinska, custodian of the facility. In April, the exhibition goes to the Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management. 9 display case, 30 levels with photographs. In the queue waiting XXI LO, then the library in Gałkowie major.

Valentin Bondariowa writes an article about Lodz, cemeteries, and the battle for Russian Polish quarterly "countrymen" (published in Abaca). - This is the true attitude of Poles to the Russians - ends. Khabarovsk authorities asking whether the exhibition could battlegrounds come to Siberia. Krasonjarska The authorities want to establish a partnership with Lodz.

17 February. With Zbigniew Frączykiem and Andrew Stasiakiem correct belts in the car, and equipment before the assault troops. We go to the village Rochna. We have to convince the municipality Brzeziny that the battle should be with the local tourism industry. On site waiting 20 businessmen, officials, owners of farm tourism. If their conviction, a formal association that will be able to ask the EU to include resources for tourism in the municipality of battlegrounds.


Q: Who will buy a staging walk on the armor? (Whom pomyliło of Grunwald). Is it not to be, or division, and the glorification of fascism? (again, this evil Litzmann).

After three hours - a victory. All unanimously to join the group. Plans: an interactive museum, hiking trails, restoring cemeteries, roads and hotels. A preliminary calculation. You will ask the Union to 50 million euros.

Mail, e-mails. Scouts from Brzezina state aid in the counting of forgotten cemeteries. Group reconstruction carskiego regiment from Rzeszów asks for contact. Branch "Newspapers" in Poznan, at the request of Peter is looking for descendants of Poles Marciniaka incorporated in 1914 to the body "Posen". In Lodz fought more than 20 thousand. Poznan. Great shot for this region.

Cemeteries in the municipality organize Gałkowie, Wiączyniu, Witkowicach.

Foundation "Promised Land" is still an idea. Mound memory. Great, dump in all the municipalities, in which toczyły to fight. - The land of all the forgotten cemeteries and war, from all walk in the province - is planning to Lech April, President. - For a century on the battlefield in 2014

1C corresponds to the company, the largest Russian producer of computer games. It can make a game about the battle, such as on "Call of Duty"? Is to: do not know anything about "operations in Lodz," you may need to collect materials.

- And we wpadliśmy before Easter on the neglected graveyard in Kamionie - Peter Moscow reports. - Lagoons Zasypaliśmy after pseudoszukaczach, wycięliśmy bushes, concrete posadziliśmy plate, made from birch two crosses, Orthodox and Catholic. I do not know whose is the land. How rustic, peasant it surprised him that the cemetery had risen. I know that we need to do formally, but we did in the wild. But most importantly, that we did.

1 September 2007. The opening of the exhibition finds Gałkowie boys from the association. September 4 - Koluszkach all day conference on "operations in Lodz." The battle has been included in the Festival of Dialogue of Four Cultures. Mayor Brzeziny municipality shows participants reconstructed the cemetery Pustułce-Witkowicach. 9 thousand lies there. killed. Dusk, somebody tells półgłosem that many people here widywało spirits zakrwawionych soldiers without heads. Maybe dopominały the memory and crosses? Crosses are already, and our Orthodox. Raised and purified CD nagrobne. The first of the coast: "Musketier M. Stachowiak, +28.11.1914. At the entrance to the cemetery two tightly laced together trees: oak and birch. Germany considers a symbol of oak Germany. Birch tree is sacred in Russia. Zrosły the case, but all are moved. - Grown in Poland - patetycznie someone whispers, but the pathos of the place and match the time.

Some domknęliśmy card.


Source: Gazeta Wyborcza Lodz